The Islamic Year is based on a fully lunar calendar, meaning that time is counted based on how long it takes for the moon to orbit Earth. There are 12 months per Islamic year, with each month beginning with the new moon. It takes the moon about 29.5 days to change from new moon to new moon, and one calendar year is approximately 354 days. (This is why Muslim holiday dates change every year on the Gregorian calendar because the lunar calendar is shorter than the solar calendar.) The month of Muharram is steeped in both religious and historical significance for Muslims. Not only is it a month decreed by Allah (SWT) as sacred, it is the first month of the Islamic calendar, marking the hijrah (emigration) of the Muslims to Medina and the establishment of the first Islamic state in 622CE.
What is Muharram, and when is it?
The first month on the Islamic calendar is called Muharram. When Prophet Muhammad began preaching monotheism in Makkah, tribal leaders didn’t like it. Early Muslims faced oppression, torture, and boycotts in their own city for renouncing the mainstream faith. This forced them to migrate out of Makkah. The historic event was chosen as a turning point to calculate the calendar year and keep track of the events that took place before migration and after migration.
Some fourteen centuries ago on the day of Ashura, the grands.
The word Muharram means “that which is made sacred.” It holds great significance in Islam because it is one of the four sacred months. It is particularly significant to the Shia sect of Islam. In 2024, Muharram 1st will take place on July 8th.
How is Muharram celebrated?
Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic year. New Year celebrations are not common in the Islamic tradition. Instead, people might use this as a time to internally reflect, set goals or take note of time.
Muharram commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Hussein RA, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, and his companions at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. This battle symbolizes the fight for justice against oppression. Imam Hussein’s refusal to submit to the tyrannical ruler Yazid ultimately led to his sacrifice. Hazrat Hussein RA was killed, alongside most of his male relatives and his small retinue, on 10 Muharram 61 AH (10 October 680 CE) in the Battle of Karbala against the much larger army of the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Mu’awiya (r. 680–683), having been surrounded for some days and deprived of the drinking water of the nearby Euphrates river.
In the Shia sect, Muharram is a major observance commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. It’s observed with congregational gatherings all throughout the month of Muharram, but particularly from the 7th to the 10th of Muharram. Depending on the part of the world, this also includes street processions and city-wide closures observing the mourning of Imam Hussain and the martyrs of Karbala. Individually, Shia families might observe the mourning in ways such as not having joyous occasions as part of Muharram’s mourning period.
What is Ashura?
The 10th day of Muharram is called Ashura, and it is of particular importance. It is believed, on this day, God saved Moses and his people from Pharoah by parting the sea. Moses fasted on this day out of gratitude, so it became a tradition in the Islamic faith to also fast on this day. However, once the fasting of Ramadan became obligatory, fasting on Ashura became optional. The day symbolizes God granting relief to those being oppressed.
It is also believed that Ashura was the day when Noah’s ark safely came to rest, Jonah was released from the belly of the whale, Job was cured of his illness and Adam’s repentance was accepted.
For those fasting on Ashura, The scholars of Islam consider it recommended to fast on the 9th of Muharram along with the 10th of Muharram (‘Ashura). This is due to the Hadith:
When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) fasted on the day of ‘Ashura and told the people to fast, they said, “O Messenger of Allah, this is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Next year if Allah wills, we will fast on the ninth day.” But by the time the following year came, the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had passed away. (Muslim).
The Prophet (PBUH) wanted to fast on the 9th, in order to differ from the People of the Book.
Why it’s important?
Muharram is important because it’s a sacred month. There are four sacred months in the Islamic calendar. A sacred month means that
Thursday, April 23, 2026
